Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce

 CONTEST CLOSED -- Winner announced soon!

Welcome to our Hanukkah Blog Party, hosted by Leah of Cook Kosher and Miriam of Overtime Cook. It's traditional on Hanukkah to eat fried treats, most notably donuts and latkes, and we've got a fabulous array of Hanukkah themed recipes, treats and crafts from Jewish bloggers all over the world! Continue reading after my recipe for links to all of the delicious treats!

Of course, being the maverick I am, my contribution is not fried.  Fried foods are great, don't get me wrong (just fry me up some sufganiyot  and we'll call it square).  It's just that after several days of partying, a seasonal yet semi-healthy non-fried alternative is quite welcome.   Did you know that, according to that renowned Ayurvedic site Wikipedia, pomegranates have been used for thousands of years to help stop nose bleeds?  Of course, it was probably a bit painful to press a pomegranate up your nose ... but I digress ...

Turns out that December is National Pear Month!  Who knew?  By an amazing coincidence I was planning to make this pear dessert anyway ... now I can celebrate TWO events at once! 

Pomegranate molasses is another name for pomegranate syrup.  If pomegranate molasses is not available in your area, make your own by simply boiling down pomegranate juice until the syrup is very thick, or whip up a batch of The Kosher Gastronome's version.

White wine used in the recipe, mostly because I wanted to use up leftover wine.   All water instead is fine.  I haven't tried this recipe with a sweet dessert wine ... try it and let me know how it tastes.

Poached pears stay firm, yet tender enough to be eaten with a spoon unpeeled (the pears, not the spoon). 

















I'm not sure why, but although poached pears are rather easy to make, everyone thinks they are a complicated gourmet treat.   Serve warm or chilled straight out of the fridge.  I prefer using pistachio nuts as a garnish, but almonds, as you can see, work just as well.  However you serve them, let your friends think you cooked all day making this as a home-made gift for them.  You're welcome.

Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce
Serves 4

1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
1/2 cup white wine (or 1/2 cup water)
4 lemon rind strips
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1 cinnamon stick
4 Bosc pears
additional wine or water (if needed)
whipped topping, (garnish)
4 tsp. chopped nuts such as pistachios or almonds (garnish)

Whisk together the honey, sugar, pomegranate molasses, wine or water, lemon rind  and cardamon in a 2-quart saucepan.   Add cinnamon stick. Place the saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a simmer.

Meanwhile, core the pears from the bottom; leave stems intact.  Carefully lay pears on their sides in the simmering liquid.  Poach pears uncovered for 10 minutes, then use tongs to carefully flip pears; continue to poach for another 10 minutes or until pears are tender (will pierce easily with a fork or table knife).  Syrup will thicken slightly; it will continue to thicken as it chills, so if it starts getting syrupy at this point, stir in additional wine or water a tablespoon at a time.  Remove from heat.  Discard cinnamon stick and lemon rind strips.

If serving chilled, transfer pears and syrup to a covered container and refrigerate, otherwise cover saucepan and keep warm up to 1/2 hour.

Just before serving, transfer pears into dessert bowls or plates.  Stir syrup; if too thick, stir in a tablespoon or two of wine or water to thin it enough for drizzling.  Spoon sauce evenly over pears.

Just a warning...whipped topping melts on warm pears.

 Garnish with whipped topping and/or chopped nuts, if desired, before serving.
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And now for the party details!  To help get everyone into party mode, we have a bunch of fabulous new cookbooks to give away! Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win one of:

2 copies of Susie Fishbein's new Kosher By Design Cooking Coach (sponsored by Artscroll)
2 copies of Leah Schapira's Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking (sponsored by Artscroll)
2 copies of Esther Deutch's CHIC Made Simple (sponsored by the author)

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 16th. Limit one entry per person per blog, so visit the other blogs for extra chances to win!

Prizes can only be shipped within the US. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address in order to qualify.

How to enter: Visit the blogs listed. Then come back here and leave a comment saying which is your favorite Hanukkah-themed food and why.  Note that not all the blogs contain exclusively kosher recipes. Please use your own discretion while perusing. 

 This is the second of many fabulous Holiday Blog Parties. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to participate in future parties, please email holidayblogparties@gmail.com

Don't forget to stop by these other blogs to check out their Hanukkah Themed Recipes:

Latkes:

Jamie from Joy of Kosher made Zucchini Latkes with Tzatziki

Daniel from Peikes Cookbook made Potato and Fennel Latkes Fried in Duck Fat With Chinese Five Spice Apple Sauce

Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen made Squash and Potato Latkes

Samantha from The Little Ferraro Kitchen made Ruby Red Beet Latkes with Cumin

Nechamah from TIforOA Food Ideas made Healthy Oatmeal Latkes

Liz from The Lemon Bowl made Traditional Potato Latkes

Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food made (I Can't Believe They're Crispy!) Baked Latkes

Laura from Mother Would Know made Three Variations of Sweet and Savory Latkes

Sarah from Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends made Kimchee Latkes

Shulie from Food Wanderings made Baked Panko Sweet Potato Leek Latkes

Donuts and Desserts:

Miriam from Overtime Cook made Shortcut Cannoli with Chocolate Mousse Filling

Leah from Cook Kosher made 5 Minute Donuts

Estee from The Kosher Scoop made Tropical Fruit Fritters

Melinda from Kitchen-Tested made Sweet Steamed Buns

Amy from What Jew Wanna Eat made Homemade Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Gelt

Avidan from Baking It Up As I Go Along made Orange Olive Oil Cake

Tali from More Quiche Please made Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes

Amital from Organized Jewish Home made Mom's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Princess Lea from The Frumanista made Túrógombóc

Stephanie and Jessica from The Kosher Foodies made Beignets

Gigi from Gigi's Kitchen made Bunuelos: Mini Powdered Cheese Donuts

Esther from Esther O Designs made Edible Menorahs

Patti from No Bacon Here made Hanukkah Oreo Balls

Shoshana from Couldn't Be Parve made Churros con Chocolate

Shaindy from My Happily Hectic Life made Inside Out Apple Crisp

Eve from Gluten Free Nosh made Gluten-Free Hanukkah Sugar Cookies

Amy from Baking and Mistaking made Mini Cream-Filled French Beignets

Sarah from Food, Words, Photos made Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Victoria from Itsy Bitsy Balebusta made Pure Vanilla Donuts

Vicky and Ruth from May I Have That Recipe made Dulce de Leche and Eggnog cream filled mini sufganiot

Dena from Oh You Cook (that's me!) made Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce

Michele from Kosher Treif Cooking made Tiramisu Cheessecake

Sharon from FashionIsha made Sparkly Chanukah Cookies

Yosef from This American Bite made Garlic, Zaatar and Olive Oil Popcorn

Appetizers, Soups, Sauces, Drinks and other Hanukkah Food:

Laura from Pragmatic Attic made Caramel Spice Applesauce

Jessie from Bread and Butter made Honey Spiced Hanukkah Martini

G6 from Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner made Sweet Potato Leek Soup

Claire from I Love Soup made Sweet Potato, Coconut & Lemongrass Soup

Jennifer from Juanita's Cocina made Kugel

Liz from Kosher Like Me made Ready, Stuff Roll!

Shelley from The Kosher Home made Hanukkah Crafts and Printables